The police in Anambra State, Nigeria’s South-east, say they have arrested two suspects over alleged rape of two girls in separate incidents in the state.
The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
In one of the cases, Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said, a suspect named Emmanuel Sampson allegedly lured the eight-year-old daughter of his neighbour under the pretext of giving her food, and then raped her.
The spokesperson said the case was initially reported at the Central Police Station in Onitsha on 8 August 2025 before being transferred to the Gender Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
In the second case, Mr Ikenga said another suspect, ThankGod Damian, a security man at an estate, allegedly lured a 13-year-old girl into an uncompleted building and raped her.
He said the second case was initially reported at 3-3 Divisional Police Headquarters, but was subsequently transferred to the Gender Unit of the SCID on 14 August 2025.
“Police operatives have secured medical evidence to prove the suspects’ culpability and will charge the case to Court on Wednesday, August 20th, 2025 (today),” the spokesperson said.
He assured that the police in Anambra State remain committed to ensuring justice for victims of segxwal and gender-based violence.
“However, parents and guardians are further advised to remain vigilant and to promptly report all suspected cases to the nearest police formation for immediate action,” Mr Ikenga said.
Nigeria, in 2015, enacted the Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Act, which outlawed all forms of violence against women and girls, including rape, female circumcision and forceful ejection.
Offenders, on conviction, face life imprisonment or maximum of 14-year jail term, depending on the age of the offender and type of violence committed.
Several persons have been convicted by various courts for rape.
An Ado-Ekiti High Court, in July 2022, sentenced a 49-year-old man, Dele Adeyanju, to four years imprisonment for molesting an 11-year-old girl.
A Bauchi High Court, in 2017, sentenced two middle aged men to life in prison for molesting a 40-year-old woman and plucking out her eyes.
